Soliqua 100/33 (insulin glargine/lixisenatide) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.

Soliqua 100/33 is used along with a healthy diet and regular exercise to help improve blood sugar levels. It’s usually a long-term treatment.

Here are some fast facts about Soliqua 100/33:

Like other drugs, Soliqua 100/33 can cause adverse effects (side effects). Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Soliqua 100/33, see this article.

Soliqua 100/33 can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who used Soliqua 100/33 in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Soliqua 100/33 use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Soliqua 100/33’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Soliqua 100/33 include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Soliqua 100/33 and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Soliqua 100/33 may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Soliqua 100/33’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Soliqua 100/33, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* This side effect did not occur during clinical trials of Soliqua 100/33. But it’s a known side effect of insulin. (Soliqua 100/33 contains a type of insulin called insulin glargine.)
† For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible after using Soliqua 100/33. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Soliqua 100/33 may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do the side effects of Soliqua 100/33 compare with those of other types of insulin?

Some of the side effects from Soliqua 100/33 may be the same as side effects from other types of insulin. For example, low blood sugar* is a possible side effect of Soliqua 100/33. And low blood sugar is the most common side effect of all insulin medications.

Soliqua 100/33 contains the active ingredients insulin glargine and lixisenatide. Insulin glargine is a type of long-acting insulin. Lixisenatide belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists. (Lixisenatide is not a type of insulin.)

Additionally, Soliqua 100/33 may cause weight gain and edema (swelling) in the arms or legs. These side effects are common with insulin. Although they weren’t reported in clinical trials of Soliqua 100/33, they’re still possible.

To learn more about how the side effects of Soliqua 100/33 compare with those of other types of insulin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Does Soliqua 100/33 cause weight loss?

It’s not likely that Soliqua 100/33 will cause weight loss. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of the drug.

Keep in mind that the active ingredients in Soliqua 100/33 have been linked to both weight gain and weight loss. Soliqua 100/33 contains insulin glargine and lixisenatide. Insulin glargine is a type of long-acting insulin. Lixisenatide belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists.

Weight gain is a common side effect of all types of insulin, including insulin glargine. And GLP-1 agonists are known to cause weight loss. Examples include semaglutide (Ozempic) and dulaglutide (Trulicity).

If you’re concerned about weight loss while using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor.

How can I prevent injection-site reactions?

To help lower your risk for injection-site reactions with Soliqua 100/33, it’s important to rotate injection sites each time you use the drug. You can inject Soliqua 100/33 into your thigh, abdomen, or upper arm.

Injection-site reactions are reactions can happen around the area of skin where Soliqua 100/33 is injected. Examples include:

Soliqua 100/33 may cause lipodystrophy (skin dimpling) or lipohypertrophy (skin thickening) around the injection site.

As with all injectable medications, you may have injection-site reactions with Soliqua 100/33. But it’s not clear whether these side effects occurred in clinical trials of the drug.

If you’re concerned about injection-site reactions while using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to help relieve this side effect.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Soliqua 100/33 may cause.

Low blood sugar

Low blood sugar may occur with Soliqua 100/33. This side effect was common in clinical trials of the drug.

Symptoms of low blood sugar can include:

If blood sugar is extremely low, seizures and coma may occur.

Your risk for low blood sugar increases with Soliqua 100/33 if you have liver or kidney problems, such as liver and kidney failure. Talk with your doctor about any liver or kidney problems you have before starting Soliqua 100/33 treatment.

What you can do

Your doctor will instruct you on how often you should check your blood sugar level while using Soliqua 100/33. This can help prevent low blood sugar levels.

If you have symptoms of low blood sugar while using Soliqua 100/33, you should drink or eat fast-acting carbohydrates. They can quickly raise your blood sugar level. Examples include a piece of candy, a glass of juice, or a glucose tablet. A diet soda or a diet or sugar-free candy will not treat hypoglycemia.

It’s important that you do not use Soliqua 100/33 during an episode of low blood sugar. The drug could lower your blood sugar even more and make your symptoms worse.

Talk with your doctor if you have low blood sugar while taking Soliqua 100/33. They can help you understand what’s causing it and suggest ways to avoid another episode.

Headache

Headache may occur during treatment with Soliqua 100/33. This was a common side effect in clinical trials of the drug.

Keep in mind that headache can be a symptom of low blood sugar, which is another side effect of Soliqua 100/33. For details, see “Low blood sugar” above.

What you can do

If you have bothersome headaches while using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to relieve this side effect. For example, they may suggest you take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Problems with digestion

Problems with digestion are possible with Soliqua 100/33. These include nausea and diarrhea, which were common in clinical trials of the drug.

Less commonly, other problems with digestion may occur with Soliqua 100/33. These include:

What you can do

Problems with digestion are more likely to occur after you first start using Soliqua 100/33. These side effects generally go away after your body gets used to the drug.

It’s important to stay hydrated if you have diarrhea or vomiting while using Soliqua 100/33. Drinking fluids such as Pedialyte or Gatorade can keep you hydrated.

Talk with your doctor if you have problems with digestion while using Soliqua 100/33. They may recommend medications to help treat your symptoms.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Soliqua 100/33 can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, talk with your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Soliqua 100/33. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Soliqua 100/33. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Kidney or liver problems. If you have kidney or liver problems, you may have a higher risk for low blood sugar with Soliqua 100/33. Examples of these problems include kidney failure and liver failure. Talk with your doctor about any kidney or liver problems you have before starting treatment with Soliqua 100/33. They can discuss ways to help prevent low blood sugar while you’re taking Soliqua 100/33.

Gastroparesis or other problems with digestion. Before using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor about any digestion problems you have. This includes gastroparesis. Soliqua 100/33 hasn’t been studied in people with this condition. If you have severe problems with digestion, your doctor may prescribe a treatment other than Soliqua 100/33.

Pancreatitis. Before starting Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor if you currently have pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) or if you’ve had it in the past. Soliqua 100/33 hasn’t been studied in people who have had this condition. But Soliqua 100/33 may cause pancreatitis. If you’ve had this condition in the past, you may be at an increased risk of pancreatitis while using the drug. In this case, your doctor may prescribe a treatment other than Soliqua 100/33 for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Soliqua 100/33 or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Soliqua 100/33. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Heart failure. Taking Soliqua 100/33 with diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones (TZDs) can worsen heart failure. Examples of TZDs include rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos). Before starting Soliqua 100/33 treatment, talk with your doctor if you have heart failure. Also talk with them about any other diabetes drugs that you take.

While using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of worsening heart failure. This includes swelling of your feet or ankles and shortness of breath. They may have you stop taking your TZD while you’re using Soliqua 100/33.

Alcohol use with Soliqua 100/33

It may be best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while taking Soliqua 100/33. This is because drinking alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels, which can keep Soliqua 100/33 from working well to treat your condition.

Before starting treatment with Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor if you drink alcohol. They can advise how much alcohol is safe to drink while taking the drug.

Also be sure to talk with your doctor if you’ve misused alcohol in the past. This can raise your risk for pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) as a side effect of Soliqua 100/33.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Soliqua 100/33

It isn’t known if Soliqua 100/33 is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

To learn more about the risks and benefits of using Soliqua 100/33 during these times, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Soliqua 100/33 may cause mild side effects. Most of these should go away with time as you continue to use this medication. In rare cases, the drug may cause serious side effects such as pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas). If you have side effects that are bothersome or won’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you’d like to learn more about Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.